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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Homemade Laundry Soap

This recipe is loosely based on the Duggar’s Laundry soap recipe. it is very easy to make and you can make 10 gallons from just a few ingredients. To get started it cost me $8.31 with tax at my local Wal-Mart. I Will be able just to by the $0.97 bar of Fels-Naptha soap for the next few batches I have to make because the other ingredients will provide enough for at least 15 batches of soap. 4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
It really does smell very good.
First you have to grate the soap using the largest side of your box grater.
The Girls said it looked like either cheese or noodles.
Then you add the 4 cups of water to a pot and add the soap shavings. They girls loved helping with each of these steps.
Heat it on Med heat and stir constantly (being careful not to let it boil over) until all of the soap is melted.
Make sure that you purchase Super Washing Soda, Baking soda will not work.
Meanwhile prepare a 5 gallon bucket half-filled with hot tap water. Add the Borax and Washing Soda, stirring until it is dissolved.
Pour in the melted soap mixture and fill bucket to the top then, stir until well combined. Let it sit until it cools and then package it in storage containers. I used recycled containers that I keep that have been run through the dishwasher. To use mix with equal parts water, and only use 1/2 cup per load of laundry. Always remember to shake it up before you use it because it will get thick.

18 comments:

So that's how you make liquid soap! I use the same ingredients but pulse them in the food processor until they make a powder--no water added. I use about a rounded tablespoon per load and it lasts forever! Yay for homemade soap!

Wickedly awesome idea! Love it. It is a great feeling to create something you can use for your whole family. An added plus is that you know what is in the soap you are washing your family's clothes in. Following your blog now.I would love for you to show this off at my Wickedly Crafty Saturdays! http://wiccanmakesometoo.blogspot.com/2011/07/wickedly-crafty-saturdays.html

visiting from Act Different Be Normal thanks sooooo much for this soap recipe. I will for sure be making this! Stop by and check out some other homemade cleaners I like to make! http://www.frugaliciousme.com/2011/07/totally-tasha-tuesday-upcycled-ts.html

visiting from Act Different Be Normal thanks sooooo much for this soap recipe. I will for sure be making this! Stop by and check out some other homemade cleaners I like to make! http://www.frugaliciousme.com/2011/07/totally-tasha-tuesday-upcycled-ts.html

I've been doing this for about two years now. It comes to about $0.48 a gallon. I also add about 1 tablespoon of Mrs.Stewart's liquid bluing to the entire mix and it helps whites from getting dingy looking.

I've been making my own laundry soap for about 2 years now. I make a powder of Borax, Arm and Hammer, and Oxy Clean and put it in an old ice cream bucket and shake to mix! Easy, works well, and last forever!!! Only bad side is I can't use it on my cloth diapers (but my friend who shared the recipe with me does and has no problems). What a resourceful way to save money! Great post!

Thank you for the recipe. Do you think this would work on Energy Efficient machines as well? More the Merrier Monday will be open until Wednesday at midnight. I would love for you to stop by and link up your laundry soap. http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

@Jamie - if you go to the Duggars website and look at her recipes, you'll see that she makes this for HE washers. You would only use 1/4 cup per load. It really does work wonders, and I suggest using her fabric softener idea as well.

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